FAO honours PM Modi with Agricola Medal

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Agricola Medal for 2026 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, at the FAO Headquarters in Rome on May 20. 

• The award was conferred in recognition of his exceptional leadership to address food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development in India and at the global level.

• The Prime Minister received the award from Qu Dongyu, Director General of FAO.

• Modi is the second Indian PM to win the prestigious prize from the UN organisation after Manmohan Singh in 2008.

• The FAO Agricola Medal is conferred by the FAO Director-General on extraordinary leaders who demonstrated commitment and action in support of FAO’s mandate to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, and ensure food security and nutrition for all.

• The Agricola Medal is an acknowledgement of PM Modi’s unwavering support to FAO’s mandate in the fight against hunger and poverty, and the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as his efforts to prioritise agrifood systems and rural development on the international agenda, including during India’s G20 Presidency.

• Qu praised India's food and agriculture initiatives rolled out under PM Modi’s leadership for their scale and reach. 

• The FAO Director-General particularly highlighted India’s financial inclusion initiatives, the world's largest food-based social safety net covering 800 million people since the COVID pandemic, direct income support to more than 110 million farmers, national efforts to advance regenerative and natural farming, and the global efforts to promote nutrient rich millets including through the International Year of Millets 2023 in partnership with FAO.

• PM Modi noted that the India-FAO partnership has been mutually reinforcing, with India significantly contributing to FAO’s mission.

• In this regard, he highlighted the immense contributions of two eminent Indians to FAO — Binay Ranjan Sen, former Director-General of FAO, and M.S. Swaminathan, the architect of India’s Green Revolution, noting that their work has profoundly shaped FAO’s efforts and influenced global food and agriculture discourse.

Key facts on FAO:

• The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. 

• FAO was founded on October 16, 1945 when its constitution was signed in Canada’s Quebec City by 34 countries. 

• India was one of the founding members of the FAO.

• Initially located in Washington DC, FAO’s headquarters was then transferred to Rome.

• With 194 members — 193 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

• FAO’s goal is to achieve food and security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food and lead active, healthy lives.

• World Food Day is observed annually on October 16 to commemorate the founding of FAO in 1945.